Semiconductor device

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a multi-pin semiconductor device as a low-cost flip-chip BGA. In the flip-chip BGA, a plurality of signal bonding electrodes in a peripheral area of the upper surface of a multilayer wiring substrate are separated into inner and outer ones and a plurality of signal through holes coupled to a plurality of signal wirings drawn inside are located between a plurality of rows of signal bonding electrodes and a central region where a plurality of bonding electrodes for core power supply are located so that the chip pad pitch can be decreased and the cost of the BGA can be reduced without an increase in the number of layers in the multilayer wiring substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 13/005,322 filed Jan. 12, 2011 which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-005403 filed on Jan. 14, 2010 the subject matter of each is incorporated herein by reference in entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and more particularly to technology for a semiconductor device including a semiconductor chip flip-chip coupled to a wiring substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A semiconductor device having a multilayer substrate is disclosed in which a plurality of connecting terminals to which bumps for connection of an LSI chip are fixed are exposed on one outermost layer of the multilayer substrate and solder balls are fixed over metal pads on the other outermost layer to make up a ball grid array (BGA) structure for connection to a motherboard (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-73622).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, in the category of multi-pin semiconductor devices (semiconductor packages), demand for smaller semiconductor chips (shrinkage in size) has been growing for the purpose of cost reduction. This demand is based on the idea that the number of semiconductor chips obtained from a single wafer should be increased by shrinkage in the size of each semiconductor chip (hereinafter called simply “chip”) in order to reduce the cost of multi-pin semiconductor devices.

When priority is given to the multi-pin structure or package size, the BGA (ball grid array) substrate type is selected rather than the lead frame type. In this case, the wiring substrate used here is often a multilayer substrate because of the multi-pin structure. In addition, in the case of multi-pin semiconductor devices, package size depends on the number of pins, so if the chip is shrunk and the number of pins remains unchanged, the interval between pads (pad pitch) should be smaller. This may raise a problem that wirings cannot pass between pads.

In other words, for a multi-pin semiconductor device, chip shrinkage may pose a problem that the pad pitch is too small for wirings to pass between pads.

On the other hand, if the number of pads is increased due to the multi-pin structure and the number of layers of the multilayer substrate is unchanged, the problem may be somewhat relieved by area arrangement (central arrangement) of pads. However, if that is the case, signal wirings to be coupled to signal pads located on the periphery of the main surface of the chip must be drawn inside (toward the center of the chip) and coupled via through holes to another layer and drawn out from the other layer.

Generally, in a semiconductor chip with a larger number of pads, a multilayer wiring substrate is used and area arrangement of pads is adopted. For example, in some multilayer wiring substrates, a total of six wiring layers, three above the core layer and three below it, are formed by a build-up technique or the like and area arrangement of chip pads is also adopted.

However, in the case of multi-pin semiconductor devices, since core power supply bonding electrodes are densely arranged near the chip center, it is not easy to provide space for through holes for electrical coupling to the signal wirings drawn inside in the multilayer wiring substrate.

Therefore, for the multi-pin structure, the number of layers of the multilayer wiring substrate must be increased to arrange wirings properly. This would lead to rise in semiconductor device cost.

Furthermore, when the chip size is reduced, the pad pitch should be decreased, maybe making it difficult for wirings to pass between pads as mentioned above. Thus the problem here is that area arrangement of pads is impossible. On the other hand, though the use of the redistribution technique makes it possible to adopt area arrangement of pads, it involves difficulty in design and necessitates a chip cost increase. Since a rise in the chip cost leads to a rise in the semiconductor device cost, it is not a good solution.

The BGA semiconductor device described in the above patent document also has a problem that if the number of pins is to be increased, the number of wiring layers of the multilayer substrate must be increased, leading to a rise in the semiconductor device cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to provide a technique which reduces the cost of multi-pin semiconductor devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a technique which enables area arrangement of pads in a semiconductor device with a shrunk chip.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description in this specification and the accompanying drawings.

Typical aspects of the present invention which are disclosed herein are briefly outlined below.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor device which uses a multilayer wiring substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface with a semiconductor chip flip-chip mounted on the upper surface includes the semiconductor chip having a main surface and a back surface opposite to the main surface with a plurality of electrode pads formed on the main surface, the multilayer wiring substrate in which a plurality of bonding electrodes are formed in a plurality of rows on the upper surface in a first region corresponding to a peripheral area of the main surface of the semiconductor chip and an array of fixed potential (power supply and GND) bonding electrodes are formed in a second region inside the first region, and a plurality of external terminals provided on the lower surface of the multilayer wiring substrate. Here, a plurality of signal bonding electrodes among the bonding electrodes in the first region of the upper surface of the multilayer wiring substrate are separated into inner and outer ones; each of a plurality of signal wirings drawn inside from the signal bonding electrodes is electrically coupled to an wiring portion in another wiring layer through a through hole; and the through holes are located between the first region and the second region.

According to another aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device which uses a multilayer wiring substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface with a semiconductor chip flip-chip mounted on the upper surface includes the semiconductor chip having a main surface and a back surface opposite to the main surface with a plurality of electrode pads formed on the main surface, the multilayer wiring substrate in which a plurality of bonding electrodes are formed in two rows on the upper surface in a first region corresponding to a peripheral area of the main surface of the semiconductor chip and an array of fixed potential (power supply and GND) bonding electrodes are formed in a second region inside the first region, and a plurality of external terminals provided on the lower surface of the multilayer wiring substrate. Here, a plurality of signal bonding electrodes among the bonding electrodes in the first region of the upper surface of the multilayer wiring substrate are separated into inner and outer ones; each of a plurality of signal wirings drawn inside from the signal bonding electrodes is electrically coupled to an wiring portion in another wiring layer through a through hole; and the through holes are located between the first region and the second region.

The advantageous effect achieved by preferred embodiments of the invention is briefly outlined below.

In a multi-pin semiconductor device, the chip can be shrunk without the need for an increase in the number of layers in its multilayer wiring substrate, so that the cost of the semiconductor device can be reduced.

In a multi-pin semiconductor device with a shrunk chip, area arrangement of semiconductor chip pads is possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view of the structure of a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of part A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an example of the electrode pad arrangement of the semiconductor chip mounted in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the first wiring layer (L1) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the second wiring layer (L2) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the third wiring layer (L3) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the fourth wiring layer (L4) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part B of FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 shows data on the relation between pad arrangement type and substrate structure type in the semiconductor chip mounted in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view combined with a fragmentary enlarged plan view, showing the positional relation between the bonding electrodes and bumps of the wiring substrate for peripheral pads and the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip in the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view showing the shape of bonding electrodes of the wiring substrate for central pads in the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing an example of the relation between the bump size and the bonding electrode size of the substrate at a flip-chip joint in the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing an example of the relation between the bump size and the bonding electrode size of the substrate at a flip-chip joint in the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a first variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a second variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a third variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a fourth variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a fifth variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a sixth variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of an example of the semiconductor device using the wiring substrate shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing an example of the relation between the bonding electrode shape of the wiring substrate and the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip in the semiconductor device according to a seventh variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the semiconductor device according to an eighth variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the semiconductor device according to a ninth variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the first wiring layer (L1) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 30 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the second wiring layer (L2) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the third wiring layer (L3) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 32 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the fourth wiring layer (L4) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 33 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 29;

FIG. 34 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 30;

FIG. 35 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 31;

FIG. 36 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 32; and

FIG. 37 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a variation of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In connection with the preferred embodiments described below, the same or similar explanations will not be repeated except when necessary.

Descriptions of the preferred embodiments will be made below separately or in different sections as necessary, but such descriptions are not irrelevant to each other unless otherwise specified. One description may be, in whole or in part, a variation or a detailed or supplementary form of another.

Also, in the preferred embodiments described below, even when a numerical datum for an element (the number of pieces, numerical value, quantity, range, etc.) is indicated by a specific numerical value, it is not limited to the specific numerical value unless otherwise specified or theoretically limited to that numerical value; it may be larger or smaller than the specific numerical value.

In the preferred embodiments described below, it is needles to say that their constituent elements (including constituent steps) are not necessarily essential unless otherwise specified or theoretically essential.

In the preferred embodiments described below, when an element is described as “comprising A” or “having A” or “including A”, a component other than A is not excluded unless it is explicitly stated that the element only includes A or otherwise specified.

Similarly, in the preferred embodiments described below, when a specific form or positional relation is indicated for an element, it should be interpreted to include a form or positional relation which is virtually equivalent or similar to the specific form or positional relation unless otherwise specified or unless it should be theoretically limited to the specific form or positional relation. The same can be said of numerical values or ranges as mentioned above.

Next, the preferred embodiments will be described in detail referring to the accompanying drawings. Basically in all the drawings that illustrate the preferred embodiments, elements with like functions are designated by like reference numerals and repeated descriptions thereof are omitted.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view of the structure of a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of part A of FIG. 2; and FIG. 4 is a plan view of an example of the electrode pad arrangement of the semiconductor chip mounted in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the first wiring layer (L1) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the second wiring layer (L2) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the third wiring layer (L3) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 8 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the fourth wiring layer (L4) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 5; FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 6; FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 7; FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 8; and FIG. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part B of FIG. 5. FIG. 14 shows data on the relation between pad arrangement type and substrate structure type in the semiconductor chip mounted in the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 15 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view combined with a fragmentary enlarged plan view, showing the positional relation between the bonding electrodes and bumps of the wiring substrate for peripheral pads and the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip in the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 16 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view showing the shape of bonding electrodes of the wiring substrate for central pads in the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 17 is a plan view showing an example of the relation between the bump size and the bonding electrode size of the substrate at a flip-chip joint in the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment; and FIG. 18 is a plan view showing an example of the relation between the bump size and the bonding electrode size of the substrate at a flip-chip joint in the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment.

The semiconductor device according to the first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a semiconductor package in which a semiconductor chip 1 is flip-chip mounted over the upper surface 2 a of an wiring substrate by soldering. In this first embodiment, it is a BGA 9 in which a plurality of solder balls 5 as external terminals are arranged in a grid pattern on the lower surface 2 b of the wiring substrate. In other words, the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment is a flip-chip BGA 9; for example, it may be a multi-pin semiconductor package with not less than hundreds of pins as external terminals.

Details of the BGA 9 are explained below. The BGA 9 includes: a multilayer wiring substrate 2 having an upper surface 2 a and a lower surface 2 b opposite to the upper surface 2 a; a semiconductor chip 1 which has a main surface 1 a and a back surface 1 b opposite to the main surface 1 a and is flip-chip mounted over the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2; and an array of solder balls 5 as external terminals disposed on the lower surface 2 b of the multilayer wiring substrate 2.

Here, the semiconductor chip 1, having a plurality of electrode pads 1 c as surface electrodes formed on its main surface 1 a, is flip-chip (face-down) mounted over the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2. In other words, the semiconductor chip 1 is mounted over the multilayer wiring substrate 2 with its main surface 1 a facing the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2. Here, the semiconductor chip 1 is electrically coupled to the multilayer wiring substrate 2 by soldering, in which they are flip-chip coupled through a plurality of solder bumps 8.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5, on the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 (BGA substrate), a plurality of bonding electrodes 2 c lie in a region where the semiconductor chip 1 is to be flip-chip mounted. More specifically, the electrode pads 1 c of the semiconductor chip 1 and the bonding electrodes 2 c for flip-chip coupling through the solder bumps 8 are located in the chip mounting area of the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2.

A plurality of bonding electrodes 2 c are arranged in two rows in first regions 2 y of the chip mounting area of the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 which are opposite to the peripheral areas of the main surface 1 a of the semiconductor chip 1. Also, an array of power supply and GND bonding electrodes (bonding electrodes 2 m for core power supply and bonding electrodes 2 n for GND) are formed in a second region 2 z inside the first regions 2 y. Here, power supply and GND refer to operating electric potentials supplied to the integrated circuit of the semiconductor chip 1, in which power supply potential is, for example, 3.0 V for an external power supply and 1.5 V for an internal power supply (core power supply) and GND potential is 0 V (grounding potential).

More specifically, an array of power supply and GND bonding electrodes are arranged in the second region 2 z near the center of the chip mounting area of the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2. The first regions 2 y are located around the second region 2 z, in which a plurality of bonding electrodes 2 c are arranged in two rows in each of the first regions 2 y.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, an array of lands 2 j are arranged on the lower surface 2 b of the multilayer wiring substrate 2, with a solder ball 5 as an external terminal coupled to each land 2 j.

The flip chip joints, lying between the multilayer wiring substrate 2 and the semiconductor chip 1, and their surroundings are filled with underfill resin 6 to solidify the flip chip joints for protection.

Furthermore, a stiffener ring 7 is attached to the periphery of the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 in a way to surround the semiconductor chip 1. The stiffener ring 7 is bonded to the multilayer wiring substrate 2 with a ring-shaped tape 7 a. A heat spreader 4 is provided over the stiffener ring 7. The heat spreader 4 is joined to the stiffener ring 7 and the back surface 1 b of the semiconductor chip 1 through heat-radiating resin 3 on the semiconductor chip 1 and an adhesive agent (for example, tape material) 7 b between the stiffener ring 7 and heat spreader 4.

Consequently, heat generated from the semiconductor chip is transferred to the heat spreader 4 through the heat-radiating resin 3 and dissipated out from the heat spreader 4 and meanwhile the heat is also transferred to the multilayer wiring substrate 2 through the solder bumps 8, then from the solder balls 5 to the mounting substrate. Also the heat is transferred from the heat spreader 4 through the adhesive agent 7 b and stiffener ring 7 to the multilayer wiring substrate 2, from which it is transferred through the solder balls 5 to the mounting substrate and finally dissipated.

As shown in FIG. 3, the multilayer wiring substrate 2 of the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment is a coreless substrate without a core layer 2 h (FIG. 19) as a base layer, in which it includes a buildup layer 2 f, a plurality of bonding electrodes 2 c formed on the front surface of the buildup layer 2 f (upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2), a plurality of lands 2 j formed on the back surface of the buildup layer 2 f (lower surface 2 b of the multilayer wiring substrate 2), through holes (wirings) 2 d for electrically coupling the bonding electrodes 2 c on the front surface to the lands 2 j on the back surface, internal wirings 2 e in the buildup layer 2 f and so on.

Solder resist film 2 g as insulator lies around the bonding electrodes 2 c and around the lands 2 j.

The bonding electrodes 2 c on the upper surface 2 a and the corresponding lands 2 j on the lower surface 2 b are electrically coupled through the through holes (wirings) 2 d, via hole wirings 2 i (FIG. 2) or internal wiring 2 e in the buildup layer 2 f.

As shown in FIG. 4, the semiconductor chip 1 is, for example, made of silicon with the electrode pads 1 c as surface electrodes formed on its main surface 1 a. In the peripheral areas of the main surface 1 a, two rows of electrode pads 1 c are located along each side and arrays of electrode pads 1 c are arranged inside the rows of electrode pads in the peripheral areas.

As shown in FIG. 2, the underfill resin 6 coated between the chip and substrate is, for example, epoxy resin. The stiffener ring 7 and heat spreader 4 are made of metal with a high thermal conductivity and the solder bumps 8 for flip-chip coupling and the solder balls 5 as external terminals are, for example, made of a lead-free solder material.

The bonding electrodes 2 c, via hole wirings 2 i, internal wiring 2 e, and through holes 2 d of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 are, for example, made of pure copper or copper alloy containing a low percentage (1% or less) of impurity such as aluminum or silicon (Si).

The multilayer wiring substrate 2 of the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment is a thin coreless substrate without a core layer 2 h (FIG. 19). Due to the absence of a core layer, through holes 2 d can be made by laser or photolithographic processing and as a consequence, the through hole pitch (interval between through holes) can be decreased and the bump pitch (interval between bumps) can also be decreased. The thickness of the coreless substrate should be 0.2 mm or less; in the first embodiment, it is, for example, between 0.03 mm and 0.05 mm.

FIG. 14 shows the relation between pad arrangement type and substrate structure type as found by an investigation by the present inventors, based on which the structure of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 of the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment is determined. The present invention is intended to provide a multi-pin structure at lower cost; for a multi-pin structure, the through hole pitch and bump pitch must be decreased and for cost reduction, the number of wiring layers of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 must be decreased as far as possible.

If it is possible to make many wiring layers, it would be easy to decrease the through hole pitch or bump pitch; however, this approach cannot be adopted because it is costly.

As shown in FIG. 14, it has been found that the number of wiring layers can be decreased to create a multi-pin structure by changing the signal pad pitch from 64 μm to 20 μm (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 14), so it is necessary to find what conditions are required to realize a signal pad pitch of 20 μm or so.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the number of signal pad rows is increased from 4 to 12 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 14) in the case of area arrangement, the signal pad pitch can be decreased from 64 μm to 21 μm but six wiring layers are required for the coreless substrate (multilayer wiring substrate 2).

So, if peripheral arrangement type and two rows are selected for the signal pad arrangement instead, the signal pad pitch is 20 μm (C in FIG. 14) and in this case, if the coreless substrate is used, only four wiring layers are required (D in FIG. 14). By doing so, the cost of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 can be reduced. On the other hand, if peripheral arrangement type and two rows are selected for the signal pad arrangement, it is possible to adopt a cored substrate with eight wiring layers; however, in that case, since the substrate has eight wiring layers, cost reduction cannot be achieved.

Therefore, by selecting peripheral arrangement type with two rows of signal pads and using a coreless substrate with four wiring layers for the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment, the multilayer wiring substrate 2 can be thin and cost reduction can be achieved. In other words, due to the use of a coreless substrate, the multilayer wiring substrate 2 can be thin, the through hole pitch can be as small as 150-200 μm and the bump pitch can be as small as 100-150 μm.

Consequently it is possible to provide a multi-pin structure with a signal pad pitch of 20 μm or so and also since it uses only four wiring layers, the cost of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 can be reduced.

Next, the wiring pattern of each of the four wiring layers of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 according to the first embodiment will be described referring to FIGS. 5 to 13.

FIG. 5 shows the wiring pattern of the uppermost wiring layer, or a first wiring layer L1, nearest to the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 shown in FIG. 2, in which this wiring layer faces the main surface 1 a of the semiconductor chip 1 where flip-chip coupling is made. In the first wiring layer L1, a plurality of bonding electrodes 2 c are arranged in two rows in the first regions 2 y of the chip mounting area of the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 which are opposite to the peripheral areas of the main surface 1 a of the semiconductor chip 1. Also, an array of power supply and GND bonding electrodes (bonding electrodes 2 m for core power supply and bonding electrodes 2 n for GND as shown in FIG. 9) are formed in the second region 2 z inside the first regions 2 y.

More specifically, an array of core power supply bonding electrode and GND bonding electrodes 2 n as shown in FIG. 9 are arranged in the second region 2 z near the center of the chip mounting area and in the first regions 2 y around the second region 2 z, a plurality of bonding electrodes 2 c are arranged in two rows.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 13, the bonding electrodes 2 c in each first region 2 y include a plurality of bonding electrodes 2 k for signals and the bonding electrodes 2 k for signals are separated into inner and outer ones. A plurality of signal wirings 2 u drawn inside from the signal bonding electrodes 2 k are each electrically coupled to wiring portions 2 ca (FIG. 15) in another layer through the through holes 2 d and as shown in FIG. 5, the through holes 2 d are located between each first region 2 y and the second region 2 z.

As shown in FIG. 13, looking at the signal bonding electrodes 2 k among the bonding electrodes 2 c in each first region 2 y, so far as the two (inner and outer) rows of bonding electrodes 2 c are concerned, the signal wirings 2 u electrically coupled to the outer row of signal bonding electrodes 2 k are drawn outside while the signal wirings 2 u electrically coupled to the inner row of signal bonding electrodes 2 k are drawn inside.

In other words, the lead wirings for the bonding electrodes 2 c in the outer row are drawn outside while the lead wirings for the bonding electrodes 2 c in the inner row are drawn inside. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the signal wirings 2 u drawn inside from the signal bonding electrodes 2 k in the inner row are each electrically coupled to signal through holes 2 q and these signal through holes 2 q are located between each first region 2 y and the second region 2 z. In this first embodiment, among the bonding electrodes 2 c arranged in two rows in each first region 2 y, those in the outer row are all signal bonding electrodes 2 k.

As shown in FIG. 13, the bonding electrodes 2 c in each first region 2 y include a plurality of GND bonding electrodes 2 n and a plurality of IO power supply bonding electrodes 2 p as well as the signal bonding electrodes 2 k. These GND bonding electrodes 2 n and 10 power supply bonding electrodes 2 p all lie in the inner row in the first region 2 y.

Also, in a region on the inside of the first region 2 y there are provided a plurality of GND through holes 2 s electrically coupled to the GND bonding electrodes 2 n through GND wirings 2 w and a plurality of IO power supply through holes 2 t electrically coupled to the IO power supply bonding electrodes 2 p through 10 power supply wirings 2 x. In other words, the GND through holes 2 s and 10 power supply through holes 2 t are located between each first region 2 y and the second region 2 z.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the signal through holes 2 q, GND through holes 2 s, and IO power supply through holes 2 t are located between the first regions 2 y and the second region 2 z.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, a plurality of power supply and GND bonding electrodes lie in the second region 2 z. The power supply bonding electrodes are bonding electrodes 2 m for core power supply. Specifically, an array of core power supply bonding electrodes 2 m and GND bonding electrodes 2 n lie in the second region 2 z, in which each core power supply bonding electrode 2 m has a core power supply through hole 2 r through a core power supply wiring 2 v and each GND bonding electrode 2 n has a GND through hole 2 s through a GND wiring 2 w.

In other words, an array of core power supply through holes 2 r and GND through holes 2 s are located in the second region 2 z.

The through holes 2 d between the first regions 2 y and the second region 2 z (signal through holes 2 q, GND through holes 2 s, IO power supply through holes 2 t) and the through holes 2 d in the second region 2 z (core power supply through holes 2 r, GND through holes 2 s) are both spaced at a very small pitch of 150-200 μm.

FIG. 6 shows the wiring pattern of a second wiring layer L2 just under the first wiring layer L1 of the multilayer wiring substrate 2. In other words, it shows the wiring pattern of the second wiring layer from the upper surface 2 a (wiring layer next to the upper surface 2 a) in the direction from the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 to the lower surface 2 b.

As shown in FIG. 6, a large GND plane 2 wa is formed in the second wiring layer L2. The GND plane 2 wa is electrically coupled to the GND bonding electrodes 2 n in the first layer L1 through the GND wirings 2 w and GND through holes 2 s.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, in the second wiring layer L2, a plurality of signal through holes 2 q, 10 power supply through holes 2 t, and core power supply through holes 2 r are disposed and isolated from the GND plane 2 wa.

The reason that the GND plane 2 wa is provided in the second wiring layer L2 is that the plane, located near the signal wirings 2 u in the first wiring layer L1, makes them less susceptible to noise and contributes to stabilization of signals.

More specifically, the signal wirings 2 u in the first wiring layer L1 are less susceptible to noise and ensure stable signals because the GND wirings 2 w and IP power supply wirings 2 x in the first wiring layer L1 are adjacent to them as shown in FIG. 13 and also the GND plane 2 wa as shown in FIG. 10 lies just under them, namely they are surrounded by power supply and GND members.

Next, FIG. 7 shows the wiring pattern of a third wiring layer L3 just under the second wiring layer L2 of the multilayer wiring substrate 2. In other words, it shows the wiring pattern of the third wiring layer from the upper surface 2 a (wiring layer next to the second wiring layer L2) in the direction from the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 to the lower surface 2 b.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, a core power supply plane 2 va lies almost in the center of the third wiring layer L3 and a plurality of oblong 10 power supply planes 2 xa are formed around the plane 2 va. In other words, the core power supply plane 2 va and IO power supply planes 2 xa are located in the third wiring layer next to (under) the second wiring layer L2 with the GND plane 2 wa formed thereon, in the direction from the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 to the lower surface 2 b.

Here, the core power supply plane 2 va is electrically coupled to the core power supply bonding electrodes 2 m in the second region 2 z of the first wiring layer L1 through the core power supply wirings 2 v and core power supply through holes 2 r. On the other hand, the IO power supply planes 2 xa are electrically coupled to the IO power supply bonding electrodes 2 p in the first regions 2 y of the first wiring layer L1 through the IO power supply wirings 2 x and IO power supply through holes 2 t.

As described above, in the multilayer wiring substrate 2, the GND plane 2 wa electrically coupled to the GND bonding electrodes 2 n in the second region 2 z in the center of the first wiring layer L1 lies in the second wiring layer L2 and similarly the core power supply plane 2 va electrically coupled to the core power supply bonding electrodes 2 m in the second region 2 z of the first wiring layer L1 lies in the third wiring layer L3. In other words, the GND electrodes and power supply electrodes in the first wiring layer L1 are coupled to different wiring layers, namely the second wiring layer L2 and third wiring layer L3 respectively.

This arrangement is possible because the diameter of each through hole 2 d and the through hole pitch are small; more specifically it is possible because through holes 2 d can be densely made in the second region 2 z of the first wiring layer L1 by laser processing.

Also a plurality of signal wirings 2 u are provided in the third wiring layer L3. The signal wirings 2 u in the third wiring layer L3 are electrically coupled to the signal bonding electrodes 2 k in the first regions 2 y of the first wiring layer L1 through the signal wirings 2 u and signal through holes 2 q in the first wiring layer L1. More specifically, the signal wirings 2 u drawn inside, among those of the signal bonding electrodes 2 k in the first regions 2 y of the first wiring layer L1, are electrically coupled to the signal wirings 2 u in the third wiring layer L3 through the signal through holes 2 q located between the first regions 2 y and second region 2 z, and the signal wirings 2 u in the third wiring layer L3 are each drawn outside through the signal through holes 2 q.

In other words, among the wirings for the signal bonding electrodes 2 k in the first regions 2 y of the first wiring layer L1, the signal wirings 2 u in the third wiring layer L3 (another layer) electrically coupled to the signal wirings 2 u drawn inside through the signal through holes 2 q are drawn outside in the third wiring layer L3. Therefore, the signal through holes 2 q are all located outside the second region 2 z in the first wiring layer L1.

In the third wiring layer L3, the signal wirings 2 u are arranged in pairs and oblong 10 power supply planes 2 xa are located on both sides of each pair of signal wirings 2 u.

The BGA 9 according to the first embodiment is a multi-pin semiconductor device with not less than hundreds of pins. In this semiconductor device, in order to arrange, in a small number of wiring layers, signal wirings 2 u to be connected to a desired number of signal pins, signal through holes 2 q are also provided inside the first regions 2 y (between the first regions 2 y and second region 2 z) so as to permit the signal wirings 2 u to be drawn outside in another wiring layer (in this case, the third wiring layer L3), because the number of signal wirings 2 u arranged only outside the first regions 2 y in the first wiring layer L1 is insufficient. This device structure permits not less than hundreds of pins to be arranged in a small number of wiring layers.

For this purpose, the device uses a thin substrate such as a coreless substrate so that the diameter of through holes 2 d in the second region 2 z under the chip and the through hole pitch can be small enough to obtain space for the formation of signal through holes 2 q between the first regions 2 y and second region 2 z of the first wiring layer L1. The presence of signal through holes 2 q between the first regions 2 y and second region 2 z makes it possible to realize a semiconductor device in which not less than hundreds of pins are arranged in a small number of wiring layers as mentioned above.

Next, FIG. 8 shows the wiring pattern of a fourth wiring layer L4 just under the third wiring layer L3 of the multilayer wiring substrate 2. In other words, it shows the wiring pattern of the fourth wiring layer from the upper surface 2 a (wiring layer next to the third wiring layer L3) in the direction from the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 to the lower surface 2 b.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, in the fourth wiring layer L4, a GND plane 2 wa electrically coupled to the GND planes 2 wa in the second wiring layer L2 through the GND through holes 2 s and a plurality of core power supply planes 2 va electrically coupled to the core power supply planes 2 va in the third wiring layer L3 through the core power supply through holes 2 r are formed and lands 2 j for GND, those for power supply, and those for signals which are electrically coupled to the relevant planes are provided. Each land 2 j is coupled to a solder ball 5 which is an external terminal for the BGA 9.

The GND plane 2 wa in the fourth wiring layer L4 is electrically coupled to the GND plane 2 wa in the second wiring layer L2 only through the GND through holes 2 s. This stabilizes the GND potential of the multilayer wiring substrate 2.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show wiring portions 2 ca exposed in an opening 2 ga of the solder resist film 2 g and bonding electrodes 2 c, in which FIG. 15 illustrates bonding electrodes 2 c for peripheral pads in a first region 2 y of the upper surface 2 a and FIG. 16 illustrates bonding electrodes 2 c for area arrangement in the second region 2 z of the upper surface 2 a. In flip-chip coupling of either type of bonding electrode 2 c, a plating layer 2 cb overlying the bonding electrode 2 c is brought into contact with a solder bump 8. In the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment, solder bumps 8 are, for example, cylindrical to enable flip-chip coupling with a small signal pad pitch of 20 μm.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show an example of the relation between bump size on the chip and minimum spacing between wirings on the substrate. Regarding the relation between solder bump size A and spacing B between wirings (bonding electrodes 2C) as shown in FIG. 17, the relation of A<B (bump size<spacing) exists so that when a solder bump shifts as shown in FIG. 18, gap C is produced between the solder bump 8 and the bonding electrode 2 c, thereby preventing an electric short circuit.

In the multi-pin BGA 9 according to the first embodiment, the plural signal bonding electrodes 2 k in the regions (first regions 2 y) of the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 which are opposite to the peripheral areas of the chip are separated into inner and outer ones and the signal through holes 2 q coupled to the signal wirings 2 u drawn inside are located between the first regions 2 y with rows of signal bonding electrodes 2 k and the center second region 2 z with core power supply bonding electrodes 2 m and GND bonding electrodes 2 n, permitting chip pads to be arranged densely.

In other words, due to the adoption of a thin coreless substrate for the multilayer wiring substrate 2, the diameter of through holes 2 d in the second region 2 z under the chip and the through hole pitch can be small enough to obtain space for the formation of plural signal through holes 2 q between the first regions 2 y and second region 2 z of the upper surface 2 a (first wiring layer L1).

As a consequence, the signal bonding electrodes 2 k in the first regions 2 y can be separated into inner and outer ones and the chip pad pitch can be thus decreased and the signal bonding electrodes 2 k can be disposed for peripheral arrangement (in the first regions 2 y) and the core power supply bonding electrodes 2 m and GND bonding electrodes 2 n can be disposed for area arrangement (in the second region 2 z).

Consequently, chip size can be reduced without an increase in the number of layers in the multilayer wiring substrate 2.

Since a multi-pin structure is realized without using a redistribution technique and increasing the number of layers in the multilayer wiring substrate 2, the cost of the multi-pin BGA 9 can be decreased and the need for chip shrinkage can be met. Generally a flip-chip semiconductor device is more costly than a wire-bonded semiconductor device. In this sense, it is very meaningful that the cost of the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment as a flip-chip semiconductor device is reduced.

Furthermore, since area arrangement of electrode pads 1 c can be made without using a redistribution technique, it is easy to design the chip.

Furthermore, in the multilayer wiring substrate 2, since the through hole diameter is decreased, the core power supplies in the second region 2 z are coupled through the core power supply through holes 2 r to the core power supply lands 2 j in the fourth wiring layer L4, so more pins can be provided without an increase in the number of wiring layers to realize a multi-pin structure.

Since area arrangement of electrode pads 1 c of the semiconductor chip 1 is possible, area arrangement of electrode pads 1 c of the semiconductor chip 1 can be made even in the multi-pin semiconductor device with a shrunk chip.

Furthermore, since area arrangement of electrode pads 1 c of the semiconductor chip 1 can be made even in the multi-pin semiconductor device with a shrunk chip, a plurality of core power supply bonding electrodes 2 m can be arranged in the second region 2 z near the center of the semiconductor chip 1, so power supply stabilization can be achieved in the multi-pin BGA 9 with a shrunk chip.

Particularly, if the BGA 9 is intended for a high power device, such power supply stabilization is very advantageous.

Next, variations of the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a first variation of the first embodiment of the invention. The multilayer wiring substrate 2 of the first variation as shown in FIG. 19 is an wiring substrate with a core layer 2 h, in which the thickness of the substrate is thin since the core layer 2 h is thin.

In the multilayer wiring substrate 2 with a thin core layer 2 h as shown in FIG. 19, due to the thinness of the core layer 2 h, small-diameter through holes can be made using a small-diameter drill, so it is possible to make through holes 2 d whose diameter and pitch are almost as small as those of the through holes of a coreless substrate.

As a consequence, even the semiconductor device which uses the multilayer wiring substrate 2 with a core layer 2 h can achieve almost the same advantageous effect as the semiconductor device which uses the coreless multilayer wiring substrate 2. For example, the thickness of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 with the core layer 2 h is about 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm or so; this substrate has an improved rigidity though its thickness is larger than the coreless substrate described above. It is assumed here that a thin multilayer wiring substrate 2 with a core layer 2 h refers to a multilayer wiring substrate with a core layer 2 h having a thickness not less than 0.4 and not more than 1.0 mm. Such a thin multilayer wiring substrate 2 with a core layer 2 h is used, for example, as an in-vehicle semiconductor package substrate which is relatively large (20-35 mm square) and should be highly reliable.

The abovementioned coreless substrate according to the first embodiment which has a relatively small package size (10-20 mm square) is used as a semiconductor package substrate for a mobile device such as a mobile phone.

Next, FIG. 20 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a second variation of the first embodiment of the invention. In the flip-chip structure of the semiconductor device of the second variation as shown in FIG. 20, gap D between the semiconductor chip 1 and the solder resist film 2 g of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 is as small as 5 μm and underfill resin 6 (FIG. 2) is not filled therein because it may be difficult to fill the underfill resin 6 therein.

Since no underfill resin 6 is used, the problem of inhomogeneous filling of underfill resin 6 is eliminated. Here, a plating layer 2 cb of nickel-gold or the like lies on the surface of a wiring portion 2 ca.

Next, FIG. 21 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a third variation of the first embodiment of the invention. The flip-chip structure of the semiconductor device of the third variation as shown in FIG. 21 has no solder resist film 2 g as shown in FIG. 20 in the multilayer wiring substrate 2; instead it has an insulating film 2 gb with a height equivalent to the height of the wiring portion 2 ca to planarize the substrate surface.

Here, the gap between the multilayer wiring substrate 2 and the main surface 1 a of the semiconductor chip 1 is as wide as 15 μm or so and this gap is filled with underfill resin 6.

The gap between the multilayer wiring substrate 2 and the main surface 1 a of the semiconductor chip 1 is wide enough to reduce the possibility of inhomogeneous filling of underfill resin 6.

Next, FIG. 22 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a fourth variation of the first embodiment of the invention. In the flip-chip structure of the semiconductor device of the fourth variation shown in FIG. 22, the solder resist film 2 g lies not all over the chip mounting area of the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2, namely the solder resist film 2 g lies only outside the chip mounting area. In this case, a plating layer 2 cb of nickel-gold or the like is formed all over the exposed portion of each wiring portion 2 ca.

As a consequence, the gap between the multilayer wiring substrate 2 and the main surface 1 a of the semiconductor chip 1 is wider, thereby reducing the possibility of inhomogeneous filling of the underfill resin 6.

Next, FIG. 23 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a fifth variation of the first embodiment of the invention. The flip-chip structure of the semiconductor device of the fifth variation shown in FIG. 23 is produced as follows: after a semiconductor chip 1 with solder bumps 8 is placed on bonding electrodes 2 c, the solder bumps are melted, then underfill resin 6 is filled there, and heat is applied to harden the underfill resin 6.

This reduces the possibility of inhomogeneous filling of the underfill resin 6.

Next, FIG. 24 is a plan view of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a sixth variation of the first embodiment of the invention and FIG. 25 is a sectional view of an example of the semiconductor device using the wiring substrate shown in FIG. 24. The semiconductor device of the sixth variation shown in FIG. 25 is a BGA 10 which uses gold bumps 11 for flip-chip coupling, with the surfaces of the bonding electrodes 2 c (FIG. 24) tinned.

As shown in FIG. 24, like the multilayer wiring substrate 2 shown in FIG. 22, the solder resist film 2 g lies on the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 (FIG. 25) except the chip mounting area, specifically the solder resist film 2 g is formed around the chip mounting area. Therefore, in the BGA 10 as well, the underfill resin is filled homogeneously as shown in FIG. 25. An opening 2 ga in the solder resist film 2 g can stop a flow of underfill resin 6.

Next, FIG. 26 is a plan view showing an example of the relation between the bonding electrode shape of the wiring substrate and the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip in the semiconductor device according to a seventh variation of the first embodiment of the invention. In the semiconductor device of the seventh variation shown in FIG. 26, the shape of the solder bumps 8 of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 for flip-chip coupling is a rectangle along the direction in which the wiring portions 2 ca to be coupled to the solder bumps 8 extend.

As a consequence, even if the wiring portions 2 ca are as thin as 20 μm, the solder bumps 8 can be adequately coupled to them for flip-chip coupling.

Next, FIG. 27 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the semiconductor device according to an eighth variation of the first embodiment of the invention. The semiconductor device of the eighth variation shown in FIG. 27 is a BGA 13 in which the semiconductor chip 1 is thin and solder bumps 12 for stacking are laid around the semiconductor chip 1 on the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 and coupled to the bonding electrodes 2 c.

In the BGA 13, due to the thinness of the semiconductor chip 1, encapsulating resin can flow to the back surface 1 b of the semiconductor chip 1 so that the semiconductor chip 1 is buried in an encapsulant 15, namely the multilayer wiring substrate 2 houses the chip. The upper surface 2 gc which connects the encapsulant 15 covering the semiconductor chip 1 and the solder resist film 2 g is planarized so that the solder bumps 12 for stacking protrude from the upper surface 2 gc.

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the semiconductor device according to a ninth variation of the first embodiment of the invention. The semiconductor device of the ninth variation shown in FIG. 28 is a POP (Package On Package) 14 which has two units of the BGA 13 shown in FIG. 28 stacked one upon the other.

In other words, a BGA 13 which houses a thin semiconductor chip 1 is produced and two or more units of the BGA 13 are stacked to make up a POP 14.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 29 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the first wiring layer (L1) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 30 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the second wiring layer (L2) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment; FIG. 31 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the third wiring layer (L3) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 32 is a plan view of an example of the wiring pattern of the area under the chip and its vicinity in the fourth wiring layer (L4) of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 33 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 29; FIG. 34 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 30; FIG. 35 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 31; FIG. 36 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of FIG. 32; and FIG. 37 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of part A of the wiring substrate built in the semiconductor device according to a variation of the second embodiment.

The second embodiment concerns a semiconductor device having a multilayer wiring substrate 2 in which the number of pins is smaller than in the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment. In the second region 2 z of the first wiring layer L1 of the multilayer wiring substrate 2, the number of core power supply bonding electrodes 2 m and the number of GND bonding electrodes 2 n as shown in FIG. 33 are smaller than in the first embodiment, resulting in a decrease in the number of pins of the semiconductor device. Specifically, the number of bonding electrodes 2 c (core power supply bonding electrodes 2 m and GND bonding electrodes 2 n) in the second region 2 z of the first wiring layer L1 is smaller than the number of bonding electrodes 2 c in the second region 2 z of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 of the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment.

Next, the four wiring layers of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 in the second embodiment will be each described referring to FIGS. 29 to 36.

FIGS. 29 and 33 illustrate the wiring pattern of the first wiring layer L1; FIGS. 30 and 34 illustrate that of the second wiring layer L2; FIGS. 31 and 35 illustrate that of the third wiring layer L3; and FIGS. 32 and 36 illustrate that of the fourth wiring layer L4. In these figures, the wiring pattern of each first region 2 y and that of the area between each first regions 2 y and the second region 2 z are the same as in the multilayer wiring substrate 2 according to the first embodiment.

The difference from the first embodiment is that in the wiring pattern of the first wiring layer L1 shown in FIG. 29, the number of bonding electrodes 2 c in the second region 2 z is smaller than in the first embodiment, resulting in a decrease in the number of pins of the semiconductor device. As shown in FIG. 33, the GND bonding electrodes 2 n in the second region 2 z are electrically coupled to a GND plane 2 wa in the second wiring layer L2 shown in FIGS. 30 and 34 through GND wirings 2 w and GND through holes 2 s.

On the other hand, the core power supply bonding electrodes 2 m in the second region 2 z of the first wiring layer L1 are electrically coupled to core power supply planes 2 va in the third wiring layer L3 shown in FIGS. 31 and 35 through core power supply wirings 2 v and core power supply through holes 2 r.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 32 and 36, in the fourth wiring layer L4, there are a GND plane 2 wa electrically coupled to the GND plane 2 wa in the second wiring layer L2 through the GND through holes 2 s, and a plurality of core power supply planes 2 va (2 j) coupled to the core power supply plane 2 va in the third wiring layer L3 through the core power supply through holes 2 r, along with lands 2 j for GND, power supply and signals which are electrically coupled to the relevant planes.

As in the multilayer wiring substrate 2 according to the first embodiment, in the multilayer wiring substrate 2 according to the second embodiment as well, among the wirings for the signal bonding electrodes 2 k in the first regions 2 y of the first wiring layer L1, the signal wirings 2 u in the third wiring layer L3 (another layer) electrically coupled to the signal wirings 2 u drawn inside through the signal through holes 2 q are drawn outside in the third wiring layer L3. Therefore, the signal through holes 2 q are all located outside the second region 2 z in the first wiring layer L1.

In the third wiring layer L3, the signal wirings 2 u are arranged in pairs and oblong IO power supply planes 2 xa are located on both sides of each pair of signal wirings 2 u.

Like the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment, the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment is a multi-pin semiconductor device. In this semiconductor device, in order to arrange, in a small number of wiring layers, signal wirings 2 u to be connected to a desired number of signal pins, signal through holes 2 q are also provided inside the first regions 2 y (between the first regions 2 y and second region 2 z) so as to permit the signal wirings 2 u to be drawn outside in another wiring layer (in this case, the third wiring layer L3), because the number of signal wirings 2 u arranged only outside the first regions 2 y in the first wiring layer L1 is insufficient. This device structure permits a lot of pins to be arranged in a small number of wiring layers.

For this purpose, the device uses a thin substrate such as a coreless substrate so that the diameter of through holes 2 d in the second region 2 z under the chip and the through hole pitch can be small enough to obtain space for the formation of signal through holes 2 q between the first regions 2 y and second region 2 z of the first wiring layer L1. The presence of signal through holes 2 q between the first regions 2 y and second region 2 z makes it possible to realize a semiconductor device in which a lot of pins are arranged in a small number of wiring layers.

The other details of the wiring patterns of the first wiring layer L1, second wiring layer L2, third wiring layer L3, and fourth wiring layer L4 in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment and description thereof is omitted here.

The advantageous effect achieved by the semiconductor device having the multilayer wiring substrate 2 according to the second embodiment is the same as that achieved by the semiconductor device (BGA 9) according to the first embodiment and description thereof is omitted here.

Next, a variation of the second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 37 shows the structure of an wiring substrate as a variation of the second embodiment, in which a plurality of bonding electrodes 2 c in each first region 2 y of the first wiring layer L1 are arranged in a staggered pattern. Specifically, the two rows of bonding electrodes 2 c in each first region 2 y of the first wiring layer L1 are arranged in a staggered pattern. In this case, the two rows of electrode pads 1 c in the peripheral areas of the main surface 1 a of the semiconductor chip 1 are also arranged in a staggered pattern so as to permit flip-chip coupling.

This arrangement makes it possible that in the wiring pattern of the multilayer wiring substrate 2, the pitch between bonding electrodes 2 c can be 20 μm at a line/space ratio of 20 μm/20 μm. As a consequence, the pad pitch can be decreased and the number of pins in the semiconductor device can be increased.

The invention made by the present inventors has been so far explained in reference to the preferred embodiments thereof. However, the invention is not limited thereto and it is obvious that these details may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

For example, although the first embodiment has been described on the assumption that the bonding electrodes 2 c in the first regions 2 y in the peripheral areas of the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 are arranged in parallel (not staggered), the bonding electrodes 2 c in the first regions 2 y (including the second region 2 z) of the upper surface 2 a may also be arranged in a staggered pattern in the multilayer wiring substrate 2 of the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment.

If the bonding electrodes 2 c in the first regions 2 y of the upper surface 2 a of the multilayer wiring substrate 2 of the BGA 9 according to the first embodiment are arranged in a staggered pattern, in the BGA 9 the pad pitch can be further decreased and the number of pins can be further increased.

Although the first embodiment has been described on the assumption that the stiffener ring 7 is attached to the BGA 9, the stiffener ring 7 is omissible. If the stiffener ring 7 is not attached, the heat spreader 4 is bonded only to the back surface 1 b of the semiconductor chip 1 through heat-radiating resin 3 or the like.

The present invention is suitable for electronic devices which adopt a flip-chip coupling method. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device comprising: a wiring substrate having a first insulating layer having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite the first main surface, a solder resist layer formed over the first main surface of the first insulating layer, a plurality of through-hole wiring portions which penetrate the first main surface to the second main surface of the first insulating layer, and a plurality of wirings formed over the first main surface of the first insulating layer and electrically connected to the plurality of through-hole wiring portions, respectively, wherein parts of the plurality of through-hole wiring portions disposed over the first main surface of the first insulating layer are covered with the solder resist layer; and a semiconductor chip having an obverse surface over which a plurality of electrode pads are formed and a reverse surface opposite the obverse surface, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the solder resist layer such that a part of each of the plurality of wirings is exposed from each of the plurality of openings, wherein the part of each of the plurality of wirings exposed from each of the plurality of openings is an electrode terminal, wherein the semiconductor chip is mounted over the first main surface of the first insulating layer of the wiring substrate such that the obverse surface thereof faces the first main surface and each of the plurality of electrode pads of the semiconductor chip is electrically connected to each of the plurality of electrode terminals of the wiring substrate via a metal bump, wherein a plurality of first electrode terminals are arranged at a first region corresponding to a peripheral portion of the first main surface of the first insulating layer of the wiring substrate, wherein a plurality of second electrode terminals are arranged at a second region located inside the first region and corresponding to a vicinity of a central portion of the first main surface of the first insulating layer of the wiring substrate, wherein parts of the plurality of through-hole wiring portions electrically connected to parts of the plurality of wirings of which the plurality of the first electrode terminals are composed are disposed in a third region between the first and second regions, and wherein, a number of the plurality of first electrode terminals is larger than a number of the plurality of second electrode terminals.
 2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of through-hole wiring portions contains copper.
 3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first electrode terminals are arranged in two rows comprising an inside row and an outside row, and wherein the first electrode terminals arranged in the inside row are electrically connected to the plurality of through-hole wiring portions disposed in the third region.
 4. The semiconductor device according to claim 3, wherein all of the first electrode terminals arranged in the outside row are first signal electrode terminals, and wherein the first electrode terminals arranged in the inside row include a plurality of second signal electrode terminals, a plurality of first power supply electrode terminals, and a plurality of first ground (GND) electrode terminals.
 5. The semiconductor device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of second electrode terminals include a plurality of second power supply electrode terminals and a plurality of second ground (GND) electrode terminals.
 6. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first electrode terminals are arranged in a staggered pattern.
 7. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second electrode terminals are arranged in a staggered pattern.
 8. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the wiring substrate is a coreless substrate without a core layer.
 9. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the metal bump is cylindrical shape.
 10. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of solder balls are disposed on the second main surface of the first insulating layer of the wiring substrate. 